Controllers for interconnected lighting devices

ABSTRACT

A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller and a group of lighting devices. Each lighting device may include a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface. The central controller receives data packets and send them to the lighting devices via a ring topology. The lighting devices may be connected to each other via the ring topology, or a set of routers may be connected in the ring topology, with each router controlling one or more connected lighting devices. The central controller and/or the fixture controllers may each translate data packets from one protocol to a different protocol. The different protocol may be a protocol that is compatible with the local system of networked devices, and/or a protocol that is compatible with the lighting device(s) that will use the data packets to actuate according to a command from the central controller.

BACKGROUND

This patent application claims priority to: (1) U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/304,998, filed Mar. 8, 2016, titled “Router Topologyfor Communication and Control in a System of Illumination Devices;” and(2) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/395,520, filed Sep. 16,2016, titled “Controllers for Interconnected Lighting Devices.” Thedisclosures of each priority application are fully incorporated intothis document by reference.

BACKGROUND

Lighting systems that include many luminaires that are controlled by oneor more central controllers are available in a wide variety ofconfigurations. Many different controllers are also available. Often,different lighting and control devices from different manufacturers (oreven from the same manufacturer) may use different communicationstandards. Thus, when replacing or upgrading a system, a lighting systemowner must either change the whole system or return to the originalmanufacturer (or a compatible source) for replacement components inorder for a central controller to be able to communicate with alllighting devices in the system. This limits customers' options forupgrading existing lighting systems.

This disclosure describes methods and systems that are directed toimproving the ability to use disparate types of lighting devices incommonly controlled system, and/or using various types of controllers tocontrol various lighting devices.

SUMMARY

A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller anda group of lighting devices. Each lighting device includes a fixturecontroller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface,and is configured to receive data packets from the central controller,extract data payloads from the data packets and translate the payloadsinto a protocol that is compatible with the lighting device, and use thetranslated payloads to execute commands for the device's lightingmodules. Each fixture controller also may use its communicationinterface to send data packets that are intended for other lightingdevices. The sending may be done along a set of serial communicationlinks that connect the lighting devices to each other and to the centralcontroller.

In an embodiment, a lighting system includes a controller deviceconfigured to generate commands for the control of lighting devices, anda set of routers that are communicatively connected to the controllerdevice. Each router includes one or more input ports, each of which hasan associated communication protocol. The system also includes aprocessing device and programming instructions that configured to causethe processing device to receive a command from one of the input ports,determine an output port that corresponds to a lighting device that isto be controlled by the command, and direct the command to thedetermined output port using a protocol that corresponds to the lightingdevice that is to be controlled by the command. The system also includeone or more lighting devices that are communicatively connected to eachof the routers via the routers' output ports.

Optionally, the routers may be communicatively connected to each otherand to the controller device in a ring topology. If so, at least one ofthe routers also may include programming instructions configured tocause the router to receive telemetry data from an external sensor orfrom a connected lighting device and direct the telemetry data to atleast one other router or the controller device in the ring topology. Atleast one of the routers also may include programming instructionsconfigured to receive the commands from the controller device and directthe commands to at least of its connected lighting devices. At least oneof the routers also may include programming instructions configured toreceive telemetry data from one or more other routers in the ringtopology and use the telemetry data to control one or more of itsconnected lighting devices. In some embodiments, the ring topology maycomprise fiber optic communication links, wherein each of the fiberoptic communication links connects two of the routers, or one of therouters and the controller device.

Optionally, the controller device may be connected in the ring topologyalong a first communication path and a second communication path. When afailure occurs in a router or communication link of the ring topology,the controller may detect the failure, identify a location of thefailure, and direct future commands to selected lighting devices in thesystem via one or more routers along the first communication path or thesecond communication path.

Optionally, each router may include a power outage detection input. Ifso, the programming instructions may be configured to alter the commandsdirected to the output ports upon detection of a power outage event.Also optionally, at least some of the routers may have one or more inputports that an Ethernet port, as well as one or more output ports thatcomprise a DMX-RDM gateway.

Optionally, the controller device may include a processor and a memorydevice containing programming instructions that are configured to causethe processor to receive a set of data packets, in which the datapackets comprise a command for one or more of the lighting devices andis encoded according to a first communication protocol that is notcompatible with the one or more lighting devices for which the commandis directed. The processor may extract a payload from each of the datapackets in the set, translate the payloads from the first communicationprotocol into a second communication protocol that is compatible withthe lighting device to yield a set of translated packets, and transmitthe translated packets via one or more of the routing devices to the oneor more lighting devices for which the command is directed so that thelighting devices for which the command is directed will actuate inaccordance with the payload.

In an alternate embodiment, a system for controlling a group of lightingdevices, includes a set of lighting devices, a controller deviceconfigured to generate commands to control the lighting devices, and aset of routers that are communicatively connected to the controllerdevice. Each router includes output ports, at least some of which arecommunicatively connected to one or more of the lighting devices. Therouters are communicatively connected to each other and to thecontroller device in a ring topology. Each router includes programminginstructions configured to cause the router to receive telemetry datafrom an external sensor or from a connected lighting device and directthe telemetry data to at least one of the other routers in the ringtopology. Each router also includes programming instructions configuredto receive the commands from the control interface device and direct thecommands to at least one of its connected lighting devices.

Optionally, the controller may be connected in the ring topology along afirst communication path and a second communication path. When a failureoccurs in a router or communication link of the ring topology, thecontrol interface may detect the failure, identify a location of thefailure, and direct future commands to selected lighting devices in thesystem via one or more routers along the first communication path or thesecond communication path. Optionally, the ring topology may includefiber optic communication links, each of which connects two of therouters to each other or one of the routers to the control interfacedevice.

In another alternate embodiment, a lighting system includes a set oflighting devices communicatively connected to each other in a ringtopology. A controller device is also communicatively connected to thelighting devices in the ring topology. The controller includes aprocessor and a memory device containing programming instructions thatare configured to cause the processor to receive a set of data packets,extract a payload from each of the data packets in the set, andtranslate the payloads from the first communication protocol into asecond communication protocol to yield a set of translated packets. Thedata packets include a command for one or more of the lighting devicesand are encoded according to a first communication protocol that is notcompatible with the one or more lighting devices for which the commandis directed. The controller's process will transmit the translatedpackets via one or more of the routing devices to the one or morelighting devices for which the command is directed so that the lightingdevices for which the command is directed will actuate in accordancewith the command.

Optionally, at least one of the lighting devices includes a fixturecontroller, one or more lighting modules, a communication interface, anda memory that contains programming instructions. Upon receipt of atranslated packet, the fixture controller may examine a header of thereceived translated packet to identify one or more destination lightingdevices to which the received translated packet was directed. If theidentified one or more destination devices include the lighting deviceof which the fixture controller is a component, the fixture controllermay cause the lighting module of the lighting device to take an action.If the identified one or more destination devices include one or moreother lighting devices in the system, the fixture controller may causethe communication interface to send the received translated packet to anext lighting device in the system. Optionally, upon receipt of atranslated packet, if the second communication protocol of thetranslated packet is not a protocol that is compatible with the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device, the fixture controller mayextract the payload from the translated data packet, further translatethe payload from the second communication protocol into a thirdcommunication protocol that is suitable for the fixture controller'sassociated lighting device to yield a further translated packet, and usethe further translated packet to cause the fixture controller'sassociated lighting device to actuate in accordance with the command.

Optionally, in any of the embodiments listed above, the firstcommunication protocol may include a first Ethernet protocol, a fibrechannel protocol or a wireless communication protocol, and the secondcommunication protocol may include a second Ethernet protocol, DMX orI2C.

Optionally, the ring topology may include a plurality of serialcommunication links, each of which connects a communication interface ofone of the lighting devices to either a communication interface ofanother one of the lighting devices, or to the communication interfaceof the central controller, to provide for transfer of data between theplurality of lighting devices and the central controller.

In yet another alternate embodiment, a system of lighting devicesincludes a central controller comprising a processor, a memory devicethat stores programming instructions, and a communication interface. Thesystem also includes lighting devices, each of which comprises a fixturecontroller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface.The system also includes serial communication links, each of whichconnects a communication interface of one of the lighting devices toeither a communication interface of another one of the lighting devices,or to the communication interface of the central controller, to providefor transfer of data packets between the plurality of lighting devicesand the central controller. At least one of the lighting devices mayinclude a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, acommunication interface, and a memory that contains programminginstructions. The instructions are configured to cause the fixturecontroller to upon receipt of a data packet, examine a header of thereceived data packet to identify one or more destination lightingdevices to which the data packet was directed. If the identified one ormore destination devices include the lighting device of which thefixture controller is a component, the fixture controller may cause thelighting module of the lighting device to take an action. If theidentified one or more destination devices include one or more otherlighting devices in the system, the fixture controller may cause thecommunication interface to send the data packet to a next lightingdevice in the system. Upon receipt of a data packet that uses acommunication protocol that is not compatible with the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device, the fixture controller mayextract a payload from the translated data packet, translate the payloadto a second communication protocol that is suitable for the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device to yield a translated packet,and use the translated packet to cause the fixture controller'sassociated lighting device to actuate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network of lighting devices, withfixture controllers and a central controller used to control the lightemitted by the network of devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a lighting device that may be used witha network of lighting devices.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the lighting device of FIG. 2, withcertain control components illustrated.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of various components of a centralcontroller and a set of fixture controllers, and how they mayinterconnect with each other to provide a network of lighting devices.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of how the central controller may translatedata from a standard Ethernet protocol to a proprietary Ethernetprotocol that is compatible with the lighting devices.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process of how a field programmable gate array mayimplement logic, or a processing device may serve as a protocoltranslation module, to translate data from a first protocol to analternate protocol that is compatible with one or more lighting devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates a topology that uses a group of routers tocommunicate with a group of lighting devices.

FIG. 8 illustrates various components of a router that may be used invarious embodiments of the system described in this document.

FIG. 9 illustrates various hardware components that may be included inone or more electronic devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means“including, but not limited to.”

In this document, the terms “lighting device,” “light fixture,”“luminaire” and “illumination device” are used interchangeably to referto a device that includes a source of optical radiation such as one ormore light emitting diodes (LEDs), light bulbs, ultraviolet light orinfrared sources, or other sources of optical radiation. In theembodiments disclosed in this document, the optical radiation emitted bythe lighting devices includes visible light. A lighting device will alsoinclude a housing, one or more electrical components for conveying powerfrom a power supply to the device's optical radiation source, andoptionally control circuitry.

In this document, the terms “communication link” and “communicationpath” mean a wired or wireless path via which a first device sendscommunication signals to and/or receives communication signals from oneor more other devices. Devices are “communicatively connected” if thedevices are able to send and/or receive data via a communication link.“Electronic communication” refers to the transmission of data via one ormore signals between two or more electronic devices, whether through awired or wireless network, and whether directly or indirectly via one ormore intermediary devices

In this document, the terms “controller” and “controller device” mean anelectronic device or system of devices configured to command orotherwise manage the operation of one or more other devices. Forexample, a fixture controller is a controller configured to manage theoperation of one or more light fixtures to which the fixture controlleris communicatively linked. A controller will typically include aprocessing device, and it will also include or have access to a memorydevice that contains programming instructions configured to cause thecontroller's processor to manage operation of the connected device ordevices.

In this document, the terms “memory” and “memory device” each refer to anon-transitory device on which computer-readable data, programminginstructions or both are stored. Except where specifically statedotherwise, the terms “memory” and “memory device” are intended toinclude single-device embodiments, embodiments in which multiple memorydevices together or collectively store a set of data or instructions, aswell as one or more individual sectors within such devices.

In this document, the terms “processor” and “processing device” refer toa hardware component of an electronic device (such as a controller) thatis configured to execute programming instructions. Except wherespecifically stated otherwise, the singular term “processor” or“processing device” is intended to include both single processing deviceembodiments and embodiments in which multiple processing devicestogether or collectively perform a process.

A “computing device” or “electronic device” refers to an electronicdevice having a processor, as well as memory and/or a communicationdevice that can access a memory device. A communication device of anelectronic device may include, for example, a short range wirelesscommunication interface such as a transmitter, a near fieldcommunication (NFC) or radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag orBluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE) receiver (with reduced transmit power), aprocessor and non-transitory, computer-readable memory. The memory willcontain or receive programming instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, will cause the electronic device to perform one or moreoperations according to the programming instructions. Examples ofelectronic devices include personal computers, servers, mainframes,virtual machines, containers, gaming systems, televisions, and mobileelectronic devices such as smartphones, wearable virtual realitydevices, Internet-connected wearables such as smart watches and smarteyewear, personal digital assistants, tablet computers, laptopcomputers, media players and the like. Electronic devices also mayinclude appliances and other devices that can communicate in anInternet-of-things arrangement, such as smart thermostats, homecontroller devices, voice-activated digital home assistants, connectedlight bulbs and other devices. In a client-server arrangement, theclient device and the server are electronic devices, in which the servercontains instructions and/or data that the client device accesses viaone or more communications links in one or more communications networks.In a virtual machine arrangement, a server may be an electronic device,and each virtual machine or container may also be considered to be anelectronic device. In the discussion below, a client device, serverdevice, virtual machine or container may be referred to simply as a“device” for brevity. Additional elements that may be included inelectronic devices will be discussed below in the context of FIG. 9.

FIG. 1 illustrates a lighting system in which any number of lightingdevices 10 a, 10 b, 10 c are positioned at various locations in anenvironment, such as a wall, ceiling, mast, tower or other supportingstructure in a stadium, arena, concert hall, outdoor amphitheater orother entertainment facility or other location. Each illumination devicemay include any number of lighting modules that include LEDs, and invarious embodiments a number of LEDs sufficient to provide a highintensity LED device. Each illumination device may include or beconnected to a fixture controller 110(a), 110(b), 110(c) that includeswiring and circuitry to supply power and/or control signals to one ormore lights. A fixture controller may be an external device, or anintegral device, that includes various components of an illuminationdevice's control circuitry.

Each fixture controller 110(a), 110(b), 110(c) may include a receiverthat receives wireless signals from one or more transmitters and atransmitter that sends any fixture related data to one or morereceivers, e.g. to a central controller. To send and receive informationtransmitted wirelessly, the illumination devices also may include areceiver and/or transmitter. The light fixtures and fixture controllersalso may receive and/or send signals via a wired connection to and fromone or more external sources. To receive or send wired information, eachfixture controller may include one or more ports for receiving orsending data and/or power via a wired connection, such as an Ethernetcable. The external sources that generate and send the wired or wirelesssignals may be included in one or more central controller devices 102,or in one or more remote controller devices 108 that are incommunication with the central controller device 102. This embodimentwill be described in more detail starting in the discussion of FIG. 4below. For the purpose of this discussion, a “central controller” or“central controller device” is a controller that is in electroniccommunication with more than one fixture controller via one or morecommunication links so that the central controller can direct theoperation of multiple lighting devices. A remote controller is anadditional controller that provides a central controller with commandsfor use in managing operation of the lighting devices.

Each central controller device 102 may include selectable user inputs,programming instructions stored on one or more non-transitory memorydevices, a processor or circuitry, and a communication interface such asa communication port and/or a transmitter for transmitting commandsignals to the various illumination devices. For example, the userinputs may include inputs to turn certain lights in a certain zone of anenvironment on or off, in which case the central controller device willgenerate and send signals with encoded data that instruct the zone'slighting devices to turn on and off. The user inputs also may includebrightness level adjustments for one or more zones and/or lights, orscenes that are designed to set various lighting devices at variousbrightness levels. Each user input command will cause the user interfacedevice to send a signal that includes data indicating which illuminationdevices should be operated by the signal. When a fixture controllerdetects a signal that is intended for its illumination device, it willcause its illumination device to execute the command that corresponds tothe control signal. Example commands and control technologies aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,189,996, titled “Selectable, zone-basedcontrol for high intensity LED illumination system,” issued to Casper etal., the disclosure of which is fully incorporated into this document byreference.

In addition, any number of external light sensors 105 a-105 n may bepositioned at a location or multiple locations in an environment, suchas a stadium playing field; a stage in an indoor or outdoor concertvenue; or a court, floor or ice rink in an arena, to detect theintensity of light. The external light sensors may include transmittersthat send status information and/or commands to any or all of theillumination device controllers and/or the interface device. Forexample, a particular illumination device's fixture controller 110 c maybe programmed to detect signals from a particular sensor 105 a that ispositioned in an area at which the controller's corresponding lightingdevice 10 c directs light. The sensor may sense light intensity, colortemperature and/or color rendering index (CRI) in its vicinity andtransmit intensity data to the device controller 110 c. The fixturecontroller 110 c may be programmed to increase the lighting device's 10c brightness if the local intensity data has a value that is less than athreshold, or it may decrease the lighting device's 10 c brightness ifthe local intensity data has a value that is greater than a threshold.One way that the fixture controller may do this is by increasing ordecreasing the frequency of “on” signals that cycle the LEDs on and offby pulse width modulation (PWM). Other ways of increasing and/ordecreasing brightness are possible. Alternatively, the sensor 105 aitself may include programming and electronics that cause it to send acommand to the fixture controller 110 c, such as an “increasebrightness” command if local intensity is less than a threshold level ora “decrease brightness” command if local intensity is greater than athreshold level.

It is intended that the portions of this disclosure describing LEDmodules and control systems and methods may include various types ofdevices. For example, the LED modules, control systems and controlmethods may include those disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication Number No. US2014/0334149, titled “High intensity lightemitting diode luminaire assembly,” published Nov. 13, 2014 and filed byNolan et al., the disclosure of which is fully incorporated into thisdocument by reference. Another example is shown in FIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the lighting device 200 includes a housing 201 that encasesvarious components of a light fixture. The housing 201 includes anopening in which a substrate on which various LEDs are attached to forman LED module 203. Each LED module is positioned to emit light away fromthe fixture. Any number of LED modules, such as one, two, three, five ormore may be positioned within the opening in any configuration. Variousconductors and/or electronic devices, and lenses for the LEDs may bemounted on the substrate of each module.

The device's housing 201 may include a body portion that serves as aheat sink for dissipating heat that is generated by the LEDs. Thebody/heat sink may be formed of aluminum and/or other metal, plastic orother material, and it nay include any number of fins on the exterior toincrease its surface area that will contact a surrounding cooling medium(typically, air). Thus, the body portion may have a bowl shape, thesubstrate 203 may fit within the opening of the bowl, and heat from theLEDs may be drawn away from the array and dissipated via the fins on theexterior of the bowl.

While the LED modules are positioned at one side of the body, theopposing side of the body may include or be connected to a power supply205. The power supply 205 may include a battery, solar panel, orcircuitry to receive power from an external and/or other internalsource. The external housing of the power supply also may include finsto help dissipate heat from the power supply 205. Power wiring may bepositioned within the body to direct power from the power supply to theLEDs. The housing may be attached to a support structure, such as a baseor mounting yoke 207, optionally by one or more connectors 208. Asshown, the connectors may include axles about which the housing and/orsupport structure may be rotated to enable the lighting device to bepositioned to direct light at a desired angle.

As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, a surface 332 that ispositioned under the LED modules and between the LED modules and thepower supply 324 may include a circuit board that includes a fixturecontroller 342, which may be used in the embodiments described in thisdocument. The surface 332 may serve as an interface plate that includesone or more conductors such as wires or conductive traces for providingan electrical contact between the electrical components of the powersupply 324 and the fixture controller 342. In other embodiments, thefixture controller may be positioned within or on other components ofthe lighting device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of how a central controller 401 andmultiple light fixture controllers 431 a . . . 431 n may transfer dataand/or power signals between each other via a wired connection to form anetwork of lighting devices. The central controller 401 includes aprocessor 403 and a communications interface that includes a router orswitch 402 with one or more Ethernet ports or optical fiber connectorsconfigured to receive an Ethernet and/or fiber-optic cable. Other typesof cables and connectors may be used, but for purposes of thisdisclosure Ethernet and fiber-optic cables and connectors will be usedas examples. Each fixture controller 431 n also includes a processor 433n and, in wired connection embodiments, a switch 402 n having at leasttwo ports that are each configured to receive an Ethernet or fiber-opticcable. With the ports described above as start and end points, thecentral controller 401 is connected via a communication link 411, whichin this case is an Ethernet or fiber-optic cable, to form a serialconnection to at least one of the fixture controllers 431 a. Eachfixture controller (e.g., 431 a) is similarly connected to at least oneother fixture controller (e.g., 431 b) via a serial communication link412, 413 (in this embodiment, an Ethernet or fiber-optic cable) in adaisy chain configuration. In this way, the first fixture controller inthe chain 431 a is connected to the central controller 401 and a nextfixture controller according to a ring topology. The next fixturecontroller 431 b is connected to the previous fixture controller 431 aand a next fixture controller in the chain until a final fixturecontroller 431 n is reached. The final fixture controller 431 n also maybe connected to the central controller via a serial communication link416 as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the central controller 401 may sendcommands to each of the lighting device's fixture controllers via thevarious communication links, and the central controller 401 may receivedata from each of the lighting device's fixture controllers via thevarious communication links. In some embodiments, communication may bein a single direction around the loop formed by the devices andcommunication links; in other embodiments communication may bebidirectional in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directionsaround the communication links.

In wireless embodiments, a daisy chain format may be established witheach lighting device's transmitter sending data packets wirelessly withidentifying data that identifies the next lighting device in the chain.In this way, a fixture controller for any particular lighting device inthe chain can identify data packets that are intended for it, and thefixture controller can receive those packets and translate those packetsinto a communication protocol that is suitable to command the fixturecontroller's lighting device to implement various actions.

Any of the lighting devices (e.g., 431 n) may be connected to one ormore external devices 451, such as a camera or computing device. Thisconnection may be via a wired connection through an Ethernet or othertype of switch 432 n as shown in FIG. 4, or it may be a wirelessconnection via a wireless receiver such as a Wi-Fi receiver 434 n or anear-field communications receiver 435 n such as a receiver configuredto receive signals via a Bluetooth™ Low Energy or other communicationsprotocol.

Each interconnecting cable includes one or more wires used to transferdata between the networked devices. In some embodiments (such as thosethat include Ethernet cables or USB cables), the cables also may includeone or more wires used to transfer power between the networked devices.For example, an Ethernet cable may include eight wires. In embodimentsthat use Ethernet cables, a pair of the wires in each cable may be usedto transfer direct current (DC) between the networked devices, whilesome or all of the remaining pairs will be used to transfer data. USBcables may also be used to transfer data and power between the devices.

Each fixture controller 431 a . . . 431 n will include a power inputthat receives power from an external power source or battery to whichthe lighting device is connected. However, if the power to any lightingdevice fails, the fixture controller of that lighting device may switchto the DC power that is available from an external power source via theEthernet cable or any other dedicated transmission medium. Each fixturecontroller may include a priority switch that is programmed to switch tothe external power source upon detecting failure of the device's primarysource of power, and to switch back to the primary source of power whenthe power again becomes available. In this way, backup power is madeavailable to each lighting device's fixture controller via the device'sEthernet port (or other power delivery port), and individual devices'fixture controllers will only switch to the backup power when and ifprimary power is interrupted. The backup power need not be sufficient topower the entire lighting device, but instead only needs to besufficient to power one or more devices' fixture controller(s) whenpower to those devices' fixture controllers is interrupted.

As noted above, the central controller 401 also may be communicativelyconnected to a remote controller (not shown in FIG. 4) via acommunication interface to a network such as a fiber optic network 441.

Each lighting device will have an associated address, such as anInternet Protocol address. When sending control data to the lightingdevices, the central controller may designate the data to be used by alldevices, by a group of the devices, or by individual devices. As eachdevice receives data, its fixture controller may examine the data todetermine whether that data is intended for it. Alternatively, a centralcontroller may be configured to be in a “pass-through” mode where itwill forward any received data directly to lighting devices for anyfurther processing. One way in which this may be done is that thecentral controller may associate one or more device addresses with eachset of data. For example, the central controller may send a start datasignal, one or more device addresses, and a control data set. If adevice detects (based on the device address that follows the startsignal) that a data set is intended for that device, it may receive andapply that data until the stop command is received. Each device willalso pass the data along to the next interconnected device in thenetwork via the Ethernet or fiber-optic cable.

Optionally, one or more of the lighting devices may add data to the datastream before passing the data stream along to a next device. Forexample, any lighting device 431 b may receive data from one or moreexternal or internal sensors, as described above. The device may appendits address to the data stream, so that the data is passed through alllighting devices in the chain and the final device 431 n in the chainwill pass the data on to the central controller 401.

When an external device 451 (such as a camera) is connected to anylighting device's Ethernet switch, the external device also may have anassociated address, and the central controller 401 may send data to theexternal device using the external device's address and the wirednetwork described above. Similarly, the fixture controller 431 n towhich any external device 451 is attached may send data from theexternal device to the central controller 401 via the data stream justas it may do with any other data as described above.

Several of the communication links shown in FIG. 4 are labeled withcommunication protocols that may be used to transmit data across thelinks. Those labels are by way of example only; other communicationprotocols may be used with any or all of the links shown. In addition,in various embodiments, the central controller 401 may includeprogramming configured to translate control data received from a firstprotocol into a second protocol that is compatible with the lightingdevices to which the central controller will send commands. In this way,the central controller 401 serves as a universal protocol gatewaybetween the lighting devices and one or more external devices orsystems. For example, the central controller 401 may translate datareceived from the remote controller in an Ethernet protocol, and/or itmay translate data received in a wireless protocol (such as Bluetooth™Low Energy), and/or it may translate data received in a fibre channelprotocol, and/or it may translate data that it receives via otherprotocols, into a communication protocol that is compatible with that ofthe illumination devices, such as I²C or that described in the AmericanNational Standards Institute (“ANSI”) “Entertainment Technology—USITTDMX512-A—Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard forControlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories”, which is commonlyreferred to a DMX512 or simply DMX. This document will use the term“DMX” to refer to the DMX512 standard, and its various variations,revisions and replacements, including any future revisions orreplacements that may be consistent with the processes described in thisdisclosure.

For example, the central controller may extract and process applicationspecific data contained in a standard Ethernet packet into a proprietaryEthernet protocol—i.e., a non-standard protocol that is compatible withthe central controller's connected lighting devices. If multiple devicesin the network use different communication protocols, the centralcontroller may also translate data returned from a first one of thedevices into a protocol that can be understood by other lighting deviceswho need to access the data packet. The central controller may alsotranslate received data packets into a protocol that can be understoodby the remote controller.

By way of example, referring to FIG. 5, in which a first Ethernetprotocol (e.g., a standard protocol) is referred to as “protocol (A)”and a second Ethernet protocol (e.g., a proprietary protocol) for one ormore connected lighting devices is referred to as “protocol (B)”, if thecentral controller receives a standard Ethernet packet (step 501), itmay extract the payload from the packet by removing the Ethernet headerand footer (which may contain destination and source addresses). Thepayload will include an application specific (e.g., standard Ethernet)protocol frame comprising application specific data, an applicationspecific protocol header and footer, and a frame check sequence from theEthernet packet (step 502). The central controller may then extractapplication specific data from the Ethernet frame (step 503).

If the Ethernet packet header or footer and/or application specificprotocol header or footer included a destination address indicating thatthe packet was intended for a particular lighting device, then thecentral controller may translate the application specific data into aprotocol that is compatible with the lighting device and use thetranslated packet to command the lighting device's LED modules (see FIG.6). Alternatively, or in addition, if the header(s) or footer(s)included a destination address that includes one or more other lightingdevices in the network, the central controller may insert theapplication specific data (and optionally other data that the lightingdevice captures or generates) into a protocol B frame with a header andfooter that correspond to protocol B (step 504). The central controllermay then add an Ethernet packet header and footer (step 505), and it maypass this packet to the appropriate lighting device via the serialcommunication links.

The application specific data translation processing can be handledeither by a main processor or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) ofthe central controller. A processor may be utilized if applicationspecific data is to be forwarded in an Ethernet frame. Otherwise, if thedata is required to be forwarded in a timing dependent protocol (e.g.,DMX) then application specific data translation may occur in FPGA logicof the central controller. Referring to FIG. 6, the central controller'sprocessor may execute programming instructions code to extract a dataframe of the first protocol from the received packet (step 601), leavingthe packet's header and footer behind. The processor may then extractapplication specific data from the frame (step 602) and forward it toFPGA logic either by a serial or a parallel interface (step 603). TheFPGA will handle timing dependent communications protocol processing inits gate array logic implementation after the data is buffered withinthe FPGA domain, adding appropriate headers for the protocol of thelighting devices (e.g., DMX) (step 604). A protocol specific packet willbe subsequently streamed out of the FPGA to a serial interface PHYmodule for hardware layer processing (e.g. RS-485 driver module). Thisprocess may be performed by logic implemented in a field programmablegate array (FPGA) of the central controller as described above, or inprogramming instructions that are implemented by a processing devicethat serves as a protocol translation module that performs the stepsdescribed above, including receiving an Ethernet packet 601, removingthe Ethernet header and footer 602, extracting application specific datafrom the packet 603, and adding a DMX (or other lighting device-suitableprotocol) header and footer to the extracted data to create adevice-appropriate packet 604 for the lighting device(s) to which thepacket will be directed.

In various embodiments, the central controller will have a memory deviceto collect and preserve any diagnostic system data from the centralcontroller, from the lighting devices or from both the centralcontroller and the lighting devices. The system may use this data foranalysis after various events, such as if a drastic system failureoccurs. This memory can also be used for any parameter and configurationstorage purposes.

FIG. 7 illustrates how the system may include a number of routers 101 a. . . 101 n that are communicatively connected between a controllerdevice 202 (such as controller device 102 in FIG. 1) that serves as aninterface device for various lighting devices or groups of lightingdevices in a ring topology. The routers may be communicatively connectedto each other in series to form a ring as shown via one or more wiredcommunication paths 112, using conductors such as an Ethernet cable, afiber optic cable, a combination of Ethernet and fiber with anEthernet-fiber converter, or any other conductive structure that cancarry signals between the interface device and the routers. In this way,rather than the lighting devices being directly connected to each otherin the ring topology as in FIG. 4, the routers may be connected to eachother, and each router may serve to control multiple groups of lightingdevices. Optionally, each router also may include a receiver 117 forreceiving control signals via a wireless communication protocol. Thering of routers are communicatively connected to the interface device202 via a wired path such as those described above, a wirelesscommunication system such as one or more transmitters and receivers, ora combination of wired and wireless systems. Each router 101 a . . . 101n is configured to receive lighting control commands from the interfacedevice 202 and deliver the commands it to the lighting controllers towhich it is communicatively connected. Each router 101 a . . . 101 n isalso capable of receiving telemetry data (such as data received from anexternal lighting sensor, or data provided by the connected lightingdevices) from its corresponding lighting controllers and retuning thatdata to the interface device or to another monitoring system.

Each of the routers 101 a . . . 101 n shares with adjacent routers viathe wired communication link some or all of the telemetry data that itreceives from external sensors, telemetry data that it creates frommonitoring its own parameters, and control signals that it receives fromthe interface device 202. Each of the routers 101 a . . . 101 n willhave a unique identifying code. Each router may associate the telemetrydata that it receives or generates with its unique identifying routercode, so that when the data is passed through the ring back to theinterface device 202, the interface device 202 can use the router codeto identify the router from which the data originated. Similarly, theinterface device may associate a command that is directed to aparticular target router with that target router's unique router code.When the command passes through the ring to that target router, thetarget router can use that router code to determine that the command isintended for it, while other routers will use that router code todetermine that it is not a code that the router is to implement. Thesystem also may use group codes to identify groups or routers. A commandmay thus have a single code that is associated with a single router,multiple codes associated with multiple routers, or a group codeassociated with two or more routers.

If a failure occurs in the ring, such as a failure in a communicationlink between any two routers, or a failure (e.g., mechanical failure,taking offline, or other inoperability) of a router itself, theinterface device 202 may still receive telemetry data and send commandsto all routers by sending the signals across two communication paths113, 114 to two routers 101 a, 101 c. The interface device mayperiodically or upon command test the integrity of the ring by sending acheck signal across a first communication path 113 and waiting for thecheck signal to be returned via the second communication path 114. Ifthe interface device 202 receives the check signal on the secondcommunication path 114, it may presume that the ring is intact. If theinterface device 202 does not receive the check signal on the secondcommunication path 114, it may presume that the ring has broken. Theinterface device also may determine a location of the failure byinspecting the telemetry data that it receives on each path and usingthe telemetry data's associated router to identify the routers that areable to send data to the interface device 202 along each communicationpath. For example, if the interface device receives data from a firstgroup of routers (here, router 101 a) along communication path 113 anddata from a second group of routers (here, routers 101 b through 101 n)along communication path 114, it can presume that the fault occurred inthe communication link between the first and second group (in thisexample, between routers 101 a and 101 b).

FIG. 8 illustrates an example block diagram of a router device 101. Therouter device is capable of receiving lighting control data andreturning telemetry and other data via multiple types of media, andusing any of multiple communication protocols, including but not limitedto:

-   -   Copper 10/100/1000 Ethernet (also known as 1000Base-T or GigE)        media        -   Streaming Architectural Control Network (sACN or E1.31)            protocol        -   Art-Net protocol        -   Streaming remote device management (RDM) (e.g., E1.33)            protocol    -   Single mode fiber or multi-mode fiber such as Fiber 100/1000        Ethernet (via SFP—Small Form-factor Pluggable—transceivers to        adapt to a variety of single-mode and multi-mode fiber        standards)        -   Streaming Architectural Control Network (sACN or E1.31)            protocol        -   Art-Net protocol        -   Streaming RDM (e.g., E1.33) protocol    -   RS-485        -   DMX (i.e., any digital multiplex protocol such as DMX-512A)        -   RDM DMX (i.e., DMX enhanced with remote device management,            sometimes known as a DMX-RDM one-port gateway)    -   Wireless/Radio frequency (RF)        -   DMX        -   RDM DMX

Other media and communication protocols may be used in variousembodiments, such as RS422, RS232, RS423, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 8, each router device 101 may include a configurableoutput so that it can be adapted to the media and communicationprotocols with which it is used. The router includes a power source 137such as an internal battery and/or a plug for connecting to an externalpower supply. The router includes any number of input/output signaltransceivers, such as Ethernet and/or fiber optic cable ports 129 thatare part of a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) cage 133, a wirelessreceiver, or other input devices. Each port of the SFP cage may be incommunication with a parallel-to-serial media independent interface(MII) converter 135 that converts the signals going in either direction,such as serial gigabit media-independent interface (SGMII) for signalson the SFP cage side of the converter 135 and reduced gigabitmedia-independent interface (RGMII) on an Ethernet switch 141 side ofthe converter 135.

The router includes programmable logic and a processing device 121 (suchas a microprocessor or field programmable gate array) that can beprogrammed and used to configure and direct signals via a splitter 123to each of the output ports 125 a . . . 125 n independently of theothers. Each of the output ports can be configured to output from anyuniverse of incoming DMX, RDM or other data (as the Ethernet protocolsall allow multiple DMX universes). Each of the output ports can beconfigured to begin its output from any point in an incoming DMX datastream (i.e. it can byte-shift the incoming stream to effectively changethe address of the light fixtures downstream). The output portconfiguration can be done via any of the RDM-capable input ports 127 a .. . 127 n (e.g., Copper or fiber Ethernet, RS-485, or RF). Each of theoutput ports may be electrically isolated from each other and from eachof the input ports.

The router device may have the ability to take an input 131 thatindicates that a power outage situation has occurred in the building.The device can respond to this input by outputting predetermined (orother appropriate) DMX levels on each of its outputs.

The device may include a fully functional Ethernet switch 141, and thusmay be useful in the routing of both lighting data and generic Ethernettraffic (useful in arenas and stadiums for scoreboards, ribbon lights,fog and pyrotechnic effects, sound, sensor data). The Ethernet switch141 included may make use of Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. When multiplerouters are configured into a ring topology as shown in FIG. 7, thephysical layer of the network can be broken in any one location, and thenetwork is able to heal around this break by re-routing data to theaffected nodes secondary inputs.

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of hardware that may be including in anyof the electronic devices described above, such as an electronic deviceor controller device. A bus 900 serves as an information highwayinterconnecting the other illustrated components of the hardware. Thebus may be a physical connection between elements of the system, or awired or wireless communication system via which various elements of thesystem share data. Processor 905 is a processing device of the systemperforming calculations and logic operations required to execute aprogram. Processor 905, alone or in conjunction with one or more of theother elements disclosed in FIG. 9, is an example of a processingdevice, computing device or processor as such terms are used within thisdisclosure. The processing device may be a physical processing device, avirtual device contained within another processing device, or acontainer included within a processing device.

A memory device 910 is a hardware element or segment of a hardwareelement on which programming instructions, data, or both may be stored.Read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) constituteexamples of memory devices, along with cloud storage services.

An optional display interface 930 may permit information to be displayedon the display 835 in audio, visual, graphic or alphanumeric format.Communication with external devices, such as a printing device, mayoccur using various communication devices 940, such as a communicationport or antenna. A communication device 940 may be communicativelyconnected to a communication network, such as the Internet or anintranet.

The hardware may also include a user input interface 945 which allowsfor receipt of data from input devices such as a keyboard or keypad 950,or other input device 955 such as a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, aremote control, a pointing device, a video input device and/or amicrophone. Data also may be received from an image capturing device 920such as a digital camera or video camera. A positional sensor 960 and/ormotion sensor 970 may be included to detect position and movement of thedevice. Examples of motion sensors 970 include gyroscopes oraccelerometers. Examples of positional sensors 960 such as a globalpositioning system (GPS) sensor device that receives positional datafrom an external GPS network.

The features and functions described above, as well as alternatives, maybe combined into many other different systems or applications. Variousalternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be made bythose skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to beencompassed by the disclosed embodiments.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lighting system, comprising a controllerdevice configured to generate commands for the control of lightingdevices; a plurality of routers communicatively connected to thecontroller device, wherein each router comprises: one or more inputports, each of which has an associated communication protocol, aprocessing device, programming instructions configured to cause theprocessing device to receive a command from one of the input ports,determine an output port that corresponds to a lighting device that isto be controlled by the command, and direct the command to thedetermined output port using a protocol that corresponds to the lightingdevice that is to be controlled by the command; and one or more lightingdevices communicatively connected to each of the routers via therouters' output ports.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the routersare communicatively connected to each other and to the controller devicein a ring topology; at least one of the routers also includesprogramming instructions configured to cause the router to receivetelemetry data from an external sensor or from a connected lightingdevice and direct the telemetry data to at least one other router or thecontroller device in the ring topology; and at least one of the routersalso includes programming instructions configured to receive thecommands from the controller device and direct the commands to at leastof its connected lighting devices.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein atleast one of the routers also includes programming instructionsconfigured to receive telemetry data from one or more other routers inthe ring topology and use the telemetry data to control one or more ofits connected lighting devices.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: thecontroller device is connected in the ring topology along a firstcommunication path and a second communication path; and when a failureoccurs in a router or communication link of the ring topology, thecontroller is configured to detect the failure, identify a location ofthe failure, and direct future commands to selected lighting devices inthe system via one or more routers along the first communication path orthe second communication path.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein thering topology comprises a plurality of fiber optic communication links,wherein each of the fiber optic communication links connects two of therouters, or one of the routers and the controller device.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein: at least some of the routers further comprise apower outage detection input; and the programming instructions areconfigured to alter the commands directed to at least one of the outputports upon detection of a power outage event by any of the power outagedetection inputs.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein, for at least someof the routers: the one or more input ports comprise an Ethernet port;and the output ports comprise a DMX-RDM gateway.
 8. The system of claim1, wherein the controller device comprises a processor and a memorydevice containing programming instructions that are configured to causethe processor to: receive a set of data packets, in which the datapackets comprise a command for one or more of the lighting devices andis encoded according to a first communication protocol that is notcompatible with the one or more lighting devices for which the commandis directed, extract a payload from each of the data packets in the set;translate the payloads from the first communication protocol into asecond communication protocol that is compatible with the lightingdevice to yield a set of translated packets; and transmit the translatedpackets via one or more of the routing devices to the one or morelighting devices for which the command is directed so that the lightingdevices for which the command is directed will actuate in accordancewith the payload.
 9. A system for controlling a group of lightingdevices, comprising a plurality of lighting devices; a controller deviceconfigured to generate commands to control the lighting devices; aplurality of routers communicatively connected to the controller device,wherein each router comprises a plurality of output ports, at least someof which are communicatively connected to one or more of the lightingdevices; wherein: the routers are communicatively connected to eachother and to the controller device in a ring topology, each routerincludes programming instructions configured to cause the router toreceive telemetry data from an external sensor or from a connectedlighting device and direct the telemetry data to at least one of theother routers in the ring topology, and each router also includesprogramming instructions configured to receive the commands from thecontrol interface device and direct the commands to at least one of itsconnected lighting devices.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein: thecontroller is connected in the ring topology along a first communicationpath and a second communication path; and when a failure occurs in arouter or communication link of the ring topology, the control interfaceis configured to detect the failure, identify a location of the failure,and direct future commands to selected lighting devices in the systemvia one or more routers along the first communication path or the secondcommunication path.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the ring topologycomprises a plurality of fiber optic communication links, wherein eachof the fiber optic communication links connects two of the routers toeach other, or one of the routers to the control interface device.
 12. Alighting system, comprising a plurality of lighting devicescommunicatively connected to each other in a ring topology; and acontroller device that is also communicatively connected to the lightingdevices in the ring topology, wherein the controller comprises: aprocessor, and a memory device containing programming instructions thatare configured to cause the processor to: receive a set of data packets,in which the data packets comprise a command for one or more of thelighting devices and is encoded according to a first communicationprotocol that is not compatible with the one or more lighting devicesfor which the command is directed; extract a payload from each of thedata packets in the set; translate the payloads from the firstcommunication protocol into a second communication protocol to yield aset of translated packets; and transmit the translated packets via oneor more of the routing devices to the one or more lighting devices forwhich the command is directed so that the lighting devices for which thecommand is directed will actuate in accordance with the command.
 13. Thelighting system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the lightingdevices comprises: a fixture controller; one or more lighting modules; acommunication interface; and a memory that contains programminginstructions that are configured to cause the fixture controller to:upon receipt of a translated packet, examine a header of the receivedtranslated packet to identify one or more destination lighting devicesto which the received translated packet was directed, if the identifiedone or more destination devices include the lighting device of which thefixture controller is a component, cause the lighting module of thelighting device to take an action, and if the identified one or moredestination devices include one or more other lighting devices in thesystem, cause the communication interface to send the receivedtranslated packet to a next lighting device in the system.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the programming instructions of the fixturecontroller are also configured to, upon receipt of a translated packet,if the second communication protocol of the translated packet is not aprotocol that is compatible with the fixture controller's associatedlighting device: extract the payload from the translated data packet;further translate the payload from the second communication protocolinto a third communication protocol that is suitable for the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device to yield a further translatedpacket; and use the further translated packet to cause the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device to actuate in accordance withthe command.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein: the firstcommunication protocol comprises a first Ethernet protocol, a fibrechannel protocol, or a wireless communication protocol; and the secondcommunication protocol comprises a second Ethernet protocol, DMX or I²C.16. The system of claim 12, wherein: the first communication protocolcomprises an Ethernet protocol, a fibre channel protocol, or a wirelesscommunication protocol; and the second communication protocol comprisesDMX or I²C.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the ring topologycomprises a plurality of serial communication links, each of whichconnects a communication interface of one of the lighting devices toeither a communication interface of another one of the lighting devices,or to the communication interface of the central controller, to providefor transfer of data between the plurality of lighting devices and thecentral controller.
 18. A system of lighting devices, the systemcomprising: a central controller comprising: a processor, a memorydevice that stores programming instructions, and a communicationinterface; a plurality of lighting devices, each of which comprises afixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communicationinterface; and a plurality of serial communication links, each of whichconnects a communication interface of one of the lighting devices toeither a communication interface of another one of the lighting devices,or to the communication interface of the central controller, to providefor transfer of data packets between the plurality of lighting devicesand the central controller.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein at leastone of the lighting devices comprises: a fixture controller, one or morelighting modules, a communication interface; and a memory that containsprogramming instructions that are configured to cause the fixturecontroller to: upon receipt of a data packet, examine a header of thereceived data packet to identify one or more destination lightingdevices to which the data packet was directed, if the identified one ormore destination devices include the lighting device of which thefixture controller is a component, cause the lighting module of thelighting device to take an action; and if the identified one or moredestination devices include one or more other lighting devices in thesystem, cause the communication interface to send the data packet to anext lighting device in the system.
 20. The system of claim 19, whereinthe programming instructions of the fixture controller are alsoconfigured to, upon receipt of a data packet, if data packet uses acommunication protocol that is not compatible with the fixturecontroller's associated lighting device: extract a payload from thetranslated data packet; translate the payload to a second communicationprotocol that is suitable for the fixture controller's associatedlighting device to yield a translated packet; and use the translatedpacket to cause the fixture controller's associated lighting device toactuate.